On Aptil 23, 1978, a plane carrying USAC officials left the Trenton, New Jersey Championship race bound for Indianapolis and crashed near here, killing all 9 aboard. The loss adversely impacted the top ranks of American racing for decades. Those killed were Ray Marquette, 48, USAC public relation vice president and former Indianapolis Star sports writer; Frank Deroy, 65, USAC Technical Director, the last riding mechanic to sit on the Indianapolis Pole, riding with Bill Cummings in 1937; Shim Malone, 48, midget supervisor and flagman who flagged all Championship races except the 500; Dr. Bruce White, 27, one of three physicians who served on USAC’s medical staff; Don Peabody, 54, sprint car supervisor; Sam Worley, 65, who served as the registrar at all major USAC races; Ross Teagarden, 57, USAC deputy technical director for various USAC races; Judy Phillips, 40, who worked in USAC public relations; and Don Mullendore, 54, the pilot and a member of a pioneer Hoosier aviation family.